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Ovatient, a digital health startup founded in 2022 as a partnership between Cleveland-based MetroHealth System and South Carolina-based MUSC Health, has launched a new virtual care platform for MetroHealth patients.
Ovatient integrates applications into Epic and MyChart to provide virtual urgent care, same-day primary care, and scheduled primary care through a national team of providers. The suite of patient-centered options expands MetroHealth's reach of care, officials said.
Obatient and MetroHealth said they plan to serve more than 12,000 patients in the first year of their partnership. MetroHealth Pharmacy and his Ovatient also offer same-day delivery service for prescriptions.
what is the impact
Ovatient's virtual primary and urgent care services are billed through MetroHealth and can be covered by insurance or paid for with a variety of cash options. Through this partnership, patients in Ohio can receive treatment at home, work or other remote locations.
The technology is integrated with MetroHealth's systems and customer care centers, including Epic and MyChart, giving providers access to near real-time data. Patients can transition from virtual to in-person appointments.
Later this year, Ovatient will expand its virtual care services to South Carolina through a partnership with MUSC Health.
The company also plans to launch a digital health platform in 2024 that will be available exclusively through Ovatient's health system partners, including an improved consumer experience, access to more virtual specialty providers, and enhanced consumption. includes clinical insight and clinical decision support.
bigger trends
Not all companies are successful in providing virtual care. Just last month, Walmart announced the closure of Walmart Health and Walmart Health Virtual Care, saying the business model was not profitable or sustainable.
Walmart said a difficult reimbursement environment and increasing operating costs created the lack of profitability.
Walgreens recently began offering virtual care, but the service is sold directly to consumers and insurance does not cover these visits. However, the company says it plans to accept insurance for virtual care in the future.
Insurance can be used to cover the cost of prescriptions. Consumers can pick up their prescriptions at a Walgreens pharmacy or Walgreens same-day prescription delivery service.
Jeff Lagasse is the editor of Healthcare Finance News.
Email: jlagasse@himss.org
Healthcare Finance News is a publication of HIMSS Media.
